[tbw2]

“The Cold Equations” dealt with not enough fuel and jettisoning a passenger. Larry Niven had one where the guy was stuck on Pluto and choose to take off his suit and take a heroic pose before freezing to death.

[SES1066]

Could also be Martin Caidin's "Marooned" (1964) about a sole Astronaut of a Mercury Capsule unable to de-orbit. There was a later movie & book (1968) that turned it into an Apollo Command Module with 3 Astronauts.

As for Tom Godwin's "The Cold Equations" (1954!!!), it is one of the best stories I have ever read and should be required reading for the difference between mere human law and the laws of physics / nature. Thankfully, it is available today from Baen Books as a $4 ebook along with other Godwin stories.

http://www.baenebooks.com/p-76-the-cold-equations.aspx